Looking Forward to 2014 - Felt Wall Art Inspiration

Hello Everyone! Happy New Year!! Sorry for being MIA for so long, but the holidays were very busy for me. I have been working some long hours along with trying to fight a lingering cold. My creative spirit has been rather dormant because of being sick and working so much. I just could not muster up any creative juices these past few weeks. I began a few projects, but have not completed them. I have pulled out old projects to just put them back away. I am looking forward to a new year and hoping to get out of this slump real soon. So when I begin falling into this non-creative rut, I begin perusing the internet for some much needed inspiration.

I hope these pictures helps anyone else that maybe suffering a creative slump as well. Although I do love my favorite hobby of crocheting, I am feeling the need to venture into some uncharted territory of embroidery and felt crafts. I think when you begin to lose a creative spark you need to look in another direction and see if it will rekindle.

Until next time, go out and enjoy the great outdoors and become inspired!!

From my family to yours...Happy Holidays and have a Creative, Inspiring New Year!!

WIP Wednesday - 1st Whimsical Birdie Ornie Complete

Hi everyone!! Well it is Wednesday and we received over a foot and half of snow since Monday! I'm loving the white landscape!

I started working on the cute felt ornaments that I wrote about in this post. They are pretty easy and probably a breeze for you that do needle point. I am a beginner and had to look up what a blanket stitch was. I found a great video tutorial here.

Not the best stitching I have seen, but it will be adorable adorned to the stocking I am planning on making. I have two more to finish and then work up some little felt ornies that I have been spying at on Pinterest!

I haven't really worked on much these past few weeks. I need to concentrate on Christmas decorations right now so I will have something up before the big day!

Everyone have a great week! Take a moment and hop over to Tami's Amis Blogspot.

Felt Ornament Kits - Christmas Time Decorating

Hello everyone! Well, December is upon us and it is time to begin the festive decorating of the home. I do love this time of year! Not only are we celebrating Christmas, but the ski slopes are open and winter skiing is in full affect!

I have gathered many crafty items to begin my month of Christmas crafting. I have a few garland wreaths that need to be decorated and hung along with complimentary garland. It is time to begin stringing up the lights and decorating the Christmas tree. I also purchased some burlap to make my Christmas stockings. I came across some really cute felt ornament kits.

I saw these cute little whimsical bird ornaments and just had to grab them. Granted I am not the best hand seamstress and embroidery seems to elude my abilities, I just cannot wait to make these darling little birdies!! The kit comes with everything you need including a needle! I think they will be very cute adorned to the burlap stockings I am planning on making. What cute winter projects are you making? I would love to hear about them.

Warm Up America - Knit or Crochet

Happy Wednesday everyone!! I am excited to be participating in a very special charity event. It is called Warm up America and all local Michael's Craft stores are participating. The organization is asking for crocheters and knitters to make 7" x 9" rectangles in any design you like or color and in January all Michael's stores will have a joining party.

As per the organization's website: "The beauty of so many different participants is that a WUA! afghan resembles a patchwork quilt of many colors and textures, just as the participants and recipients represent the varied faces of America." 

This is such a touching charitable event. All afghans are donated to 

• Women's shelters
• Nursing homes
• Children's hospitals
• Hospitals and hospices
• Daycare centers
• Veterans' homes
• Churches
• AIDS facilities
• Homeless shelters
• American Red Cross chapters

So join me and your local Michael's Craft Store and let's "Warm up America"!!! You don't have to participate through a Michael's craft store, you can also crochet or knit up your own rectangles and just send them to the Warm Up America! Foundation and they will join yours to the many others they will receive.

This is one of the squares I am wanting to work up. I am not great at reading a chart, but hopefully I will be able to muddle through. It is also a written pattern, but sometimes I become so confused with all the abbreviations.

I also purchased a wonderful fingerless mitt pattern from Sandra Paul of Cherry Heart through Ravelry. The pattern is called Cherry Basket Mitts. They are the first crochet mitts that really call to me to hook up!

Courtesy of Cherry Heart Blogspot

I am looking forward to beginning these today!!

Everyone have a wonderful week!! I hope to have these cute and comfy looking mitts completed so maybe a FO on Friday!!

Elf Hat & Snow Hiking

Hello everyone!! Sorry for the lack of posts lately, but it has been a very busy few weeks for me and not much crafting has been happening.

Elf Hat Pattern

I am very much into the Christmas spirit! I have been perusing Pinterest and Ravelry for some Christmas ornaments and hat ideas. I found a great pattern for a pixie/elf hat on Ravelry and just had to sit down and make one. The Crochet Pixie Cap by Teresa Richardson is an easy and fun little cap to make.

I went with non-traditional colors of aqua and grey. The brim has a row of popcorn stitches that make it a little more whimsical. One great thing about this pattern is once you are at the width you want you just keep crocheting in the round until you reach your desired length. Also the pattern link has video instructions!! I find video instructions very useful when you are trying a new stitch. I had never done the popcorn stitch prior to this pattern, so having the video was great. I am now working on another cap that will be striped.

Snow Hiking!!

This weekend we had some phenomenal snow fall! Sunday was a day off for the husband and I, so we decided on a nice snow hike. Enjoy the few pics we took during our hike!

Enjoy your week!!

Pinterest Inspiration - Colorful Afghans

Happy Monday everyone! It's only a happy Monday for me because today is a holiday and I am able to enjoy a quiet Monday morning at home. And during my quiet time I was enjoying the many colorful posted afghans in Pinterest. With the temperatures dropping and the signs of snow, I am wanting to make more afghans! Here a just a few that caught my eye this morning:

Granny Square Garden by Past Perfect Patterns Etsy Shop

Lovely Stacked Afghans!! Flowers in the Snow by Sarah Dotson 

Sunny Daze by Laura Pavy

Well those are my Pinterest Inspirations today! I hope all have a great week!

I Love Yarn Day!!!

Banner courtesy of Red Heart website

Yes, today is officially I love Yarn Day! I definitely love yarn. I can just stand in a yarn store or isle for hours just admiring all the color and textures. I am notorious for picking up almost every skein and just squeezing it. Maybe my American friends and fellow bloggers remember the charmin commercial always telling the store guy not to squeeze the charmin. That's me with yarn!!

So what do you do for I love Yarn Day you may ask? Well, you can do a lot of things.

Check out the official website for I love Yarn Day Organization and check out what others are doing for this wonderful day!

What did I do for this special day? I have a WIP in my bag so I can work on it during any down time at work today. I also completed a really cute and fast project. I made myself a new crochet hook case using a pattern by Alli Hyer. You can find the pattern here. It is not only a useful project but it also taught me a new stitch, the star stitch.

 

 

A very quick stash busting project. What I love the most is that you roll it out and can easily find the correct size hook needed for the project you are working on!

 

Everyone have a great weekend! And enjoy today by making something with some of your favorite yarn!